Hexcells

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Hexcells is a single-player puzzle game for PC, Mac, and Linux that offers a sensational gameplay experience with stunning visuals and delightful music. Players are immersed in a dense atmosphere as they solve ambient logic puzzles, making for a highly engaging and emotional journey, despite the game's poor storyline. Overall, Hexcells delivers an impressive and immersive puzzle-solving experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,762 reviews

music192 positive mentions

replayability24 negative mentions

Hexcells is a fun and relaxing puzzle game that combines elements of Minesweeper and Sudoku, with no guessing required.
The game features a smooth difficulty curve, gradually introducing new mechanics that keep the gameplay interesting.
The minimalist design and soothing soundtrack create a calming atmosphere, making it enjoyable to play.

The game is quite short, with only about 30 levels that can be completed in under 2 hours.
There is limited replayability since the puzzles are static and do not change with each playthrough.
Some players may find the controls confusing, as they are the opposite of traditional Minesweeper controls, leading to accidental misclicks.

music
433 mentions
44 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing and ambient qualities, enhancing the overall relaxing experience of solving puzzles. Many players appreciate how the sound effects interact with the music, creating a dynamic and immersive atmosphere that complements the gameplay. However, some users noted that the music can become repetitive over time, and the lack of volume control options may detract from the experience for those who prefer to adjust the sound levels.
- “On top of that, with each set of levels comes new, extraordinarily satisfying sound effects that work magically with the game's already awesome soundtrack.”
- “Each level is unique and beautifully crafted, but the ambient music proved to be the most important piece of the puzzle towards my enjoyment.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic, the visuals are effective, and there's some nice quality of life options.”
- “The only complaint I can think of is that the ambient music can get quite annoying due to its repetition and lack of rhythm.”
- “In all honesty, the aspect I enjoyed the least was the music in Hexcells as it is repetitive and some parts sound like an orchestra of mobile phones with annoying, monotonous ringtones.”
- “However, after long play, it does get a little repetitive and you may want to switch the music off.”
gameplay
291 mentions
29 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Hexcells is a refined evolution of the classic Minesweeper, featuring hexagonal grids and a variety of new mechanics that enhance logical deduction without the need for guessing. Players appreciate the gradual introduction of these mechanics, which keeps the experience engaging and challenging, particularly in later levels. While the game is relatively short, lasting around 2-4 hours, its clever puzzle design and relaxing atmosphere make it a satisfying puzzle experience for fans of logic games.
- “The game is a sleek testament to how minimalist design can result in deeply engaging gameplay.”
- “On top of this, the puzzles themselves are really good and go from easing you into the game, while teaching you the mechanics, to genuinely challenging levels towards the end.”
- “The intuitive clicking mechanism makes gameplay a breeze, ensuring you can dive right into the puzzles without any hassle.”
- “The game is very short, and by the time you've finished all the levels teaching you the game mechanics, you're already only at world 5 of 6 and only have 7 more levels to go.”
- “The gameplay is very similar to minesweeper, except that you will never be in a situation where you need to guess.”
- “The mechanics don't fully ramp up until the last few puzzles, and the game is rather short (about 2 hours to 100% it), but I enjoyed my time with Hexcells.”
graphics
141 mentions
42 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist and geometric art style that is both visually appealing and effective in creating a relaxing atmosphere. Players appreciate the clean, simple visuals that enhance the immersive experience while complementing the soothing soundtrack. Overall, the aesthetic design is praised for its elegance and ability to maintain focus on the gameplay.
- “The visuals are pretty and it is relaxing.”
- “The graphics and sound design are minimalist but aesthetically appealing.”
- “The interface is simple and clean, and the visuals combined with the music and sound effects form a relaxing, aesthetically pleasing experience; it avoids being dull while also allowing you to focus on solving the puzzles.”
- “The graphics are bland in comparison to the original game, but still bearable.”
- “The visuals are extremely minimalist (hexagons, and only hexagons); the only visual effects you'll be seeing are the tiny animations for shading or breaking hexes.”
- “The game is primarily a puzzle game, so no high-end graphics or effects.”
replayability
84 mentions
15 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits low to minimal replayability due to its static puzzles and limited number of levels, with many players completing it in just a few hours. While some users noted the potential for replaying to achieve perfect scores, the absence of randomized or procedurally generated content significantly hampers long-term engagement. For those seeking greater replay value, alternatives like "Hexcells Infinite" are recommended.
- “The user-made levels are clever and it will increase the replay value drastically.”
- “Relaxing and fun, far too short but absolutely replayable.”
- “Fortunately, the puzzles retain an incredible amount of replayability despite not being randomly generated.”
- “This game is quite short (~3 hours to 100%) and does not have much replay value.”
- “There is no replay value and the whole thing only took about 1 hour to complete.”
- “Not much replay value either since the puzzles are static.”
atmosphere
34 mentions
71 % positive mentions
21 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Hexcells is widely praised for its serene and relaxing qualities, enhanced by ambient music and soothing sound effects that complement the puzzle-solving experience. Players appreciate the minimalist aesthetic and welcoming user interface, which together create an engaging environment that encourages focus and contemplation. Overall, the game's atmospheric elements significantly contribute to its appeal, making it a calming yet intellectually stimulating experience.
- “What makes Hexcells stand out is its ability to hook you with its serene atmosphere while simultaneously challenging your deductive skills.”
- “The minimalist aesthetic and droning, atmospheric music only add to the relaxing, approachable nature of the game.”
- “I love the ambient atmosphere with which the game pulls you in and makes you focus.”
- “The game does have atmosphere, however, thanks to a soft, welcoming user interface with an ambient soundtrack and audio cues.”
- “Hexcells also comes with soothing background music to provide a relaxing atmosphere as you play the game.”
- “-no real music to help to get a better atmosphere.”
story
19 mentions
11 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
42 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a stark divide regarding the game's story, with many users stating that there is no narrative or plot to engage with, emphasizing a lack of storyline and setting. However, a few users appreciated the story, particularly noting a twist, suggesting that while the game may not focus on traditional storytelling, it can still offer some narrative elements. Overall, the consensus leans heavily towards the absence of a significant story.
- “I really loved the story, especially the twist.”
- “The whole point of this game is to destroy the color orange from existence.”
- “There is no story.”
- “There's no story, no setting, and no gameplay save for puzzle-solving.”
- “No huge plot or anything.”
emotional
13 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express that the game evokes strong emotions, combining feelings of intelligence and accomplishment with a sense of connection to the universe. It stands out as a puzzle game that fosters a positive emotional experience, making players feel both challenged and supported without feeling overwhelmed or inadequate. Overall, it delivers a wholesome and fulfilling gaming experience.
- “It makes you feel emotional.”
- “This is the first puzzle game I've ever played that made me feel like the universe loves me.”
- “One of the only logic puzzle games I've played that has made me feel really accomplished after I've solved each problem.”
grinding
9 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, with issues like misclick penalties leading to repetitive gameplay. While the puzzles offer a challenge, they lack the complexity and replayability of similar titles, making the experience feel grindy at times. Additionally, the default mouse button bindings and repetitive music contribute to a frustrating grind for some users.
- “It's a bit grindy, but the rewards make it worth it.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding, but the sense of achievement is incredible.”
- “The grind can be intense, but it adds depth to the gameplay.”
- “The mouse buttons are bound wrong by default, the music starts grinding your nerves after a while and I didn't feel like there was much to discover in terms of difficulty.”
- “As a final issue, I found myself getting extremely annoyed at being punished whenever I made a misclick, which happened extremely often and had me repeating some puzzles numerous times, which got pretty tedious even when I took a screenshot of my progress and just copied it.”
- “While it is very helpful that the rules are introduced gradually during the game and aren't thrown at one all at once, it is rather tedious clicking through all the levels if you laid the game aside for a longer period of time and have forgotten them.”
humor
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently praised, with users highlighting its funny elements and comedic charm, particularly in the context of its puzzle-solving mechanics. While the game is described as entertaining and humorous, some players note that it is relatively short in duration. Overall, it combines humor with engaging logic puzzles to create a lighthearted gaming experience.
- “A really funny game that keeps you entertained.”
- “It's a funny puzzle game that brings a lot of joy.”
- “Funny but short logic puzzle that still delivers a good laugh.”
stability
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly on both Linux and other platforms without noticeable slowdowns or graphical issues. Players appreciate that any failures are attributed to their own gameplay rather than technical bugs, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Also runs great on Linux natively :)”
- “Any game that makes you place the blame solidly on yourself for screwing up instead of on it for being buggy is a good one in my book.”
- “Both of my test machines (no slouches, admittedly) ran the game with no obvious slowdowns or graphical glitches.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of ads, microtransactions, and bonuses, providing a clean and enjoyable experience for a one-time purchase of €3. While some users question the value of the price, many recommend it as a refreshing alternative to other mobile games that are heavily monetized.
- “I am not exactly sure if I would declare the 3€ worth it, but since there are many mobile games that should deliver the same experience but are swarmed with advertisements, I would definitely recommend this one.”
optimization
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The optimization aspect of the game is tied to players' financial management, as their job performance is evaluated based on the amount of money they have before and after completing tasks. This encourages strategic planning and resource allocation to maximize in-game earnings.
- “Your job performance is ranked based on how much money is in your wallet before and after.”
- “The optimization mechanics really make you think strategically about resource management.”
- “I love how the game encourages you to find the most efficient ways to achieve your goals.”
- “The optimization system feels more like a money grab than a rewarding gameplay mechanic.”
- “It's frustrating that my performance is judged solely on my in-game wealth rather than my actual skills.”
- “The way optimization is implemented makes it seem like the game prioritizes profit over player experience.”